Luxor - Aswan Destination Guide

Luxor and Aswan are popular with tourists at any given time which creates a special atmosphere full of animation and bustle. Both cities offer stunning scenery and a wealth of ancient sites and temples. In both you'll find horse drawn carriages riding past the Corniche, feluccas gliding down the Nile with sand dunes in the background, and ancient temples and monuments to the gods glittering in the sun.

One of the highlights of a trip to Luxor and Aswan is a scenic felucca ride along the Nile.

Our Luxor and Aswan Destination Guide introduces you to the highlights and wealth of things to see and do on a trip to the bustling cities of Luxor and Aswan. Explore the ancient wonders and amazing countryside of these historic cities on an interesting Luxor or Aswan tour. For general information to help you plan your trip to Egypt, take a look at our Egypt Country Guide.

Luxor & Aswan Destination Guide

Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Luxor and Aswan:

Rising from the ruins of the historic city of Thebes, Luxor is one of the most visited places in Egypt. What makes it so popular is its fabulous architecture and the meticulous way in which it has been preserved. Generations of tourists have been visiting the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Rameses II and Hatshepsut. Like its famous queen, Luxor too has a beauty that time cannot wither.

Karnak Temples
The spectacular Temples of Karnak are not to be missed when you travel to Egypt. As Michael Wood of the BBC History channel puts it: 'Karnak is like a theme park of ancient Egyptian religion - in which every god and goddess of that civilization was represented over a period of about 2,000 years'.

It is no wonder then that Karnak was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. The site is huge, measuring 1500 x 800 meters, and is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods.

Sound and Light Show at the Temple of Karnak
The Sound and Light show at the Temple of Karnak lets visitors travel back in time and watch history unfold. As night falls, the audience is transported to the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt when work started on the greatest temple ever built by man. This 75 minute journey takes visitors along the temple grounds before finishing up on the shores of the Great Sacred Lake. As visitors see this great temple lit up against the backdrop of the dark night, it easy to understand why Luxor was considered the centre of the ancient world.

Luxor Museum
Offering splendid views of the Nile River, this museum is at the centre of Luxor. It houses many of the relics found at the Theben temples and necropolis on the west bank. The museum comes highly recommended because it will enrich your experience when you visit the rest of the sites. Artefacts dating from Pre-dynastic Period up to the Islamic Era can be seen here. Not to be missed are the priceless relics recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamen (KV62). Also exhibited are a collection of sculptures belonging to the New Kingdom which were accidentally discovered in 1989 in an underground storage space close to the Luxor Temple.

Luxor Temple
Travelling to Luxor it's hard to miss the spectacular Luxor Temple situated in the centre of the city. The Temple of Luxor was built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II around 1400BC. Its main purpose was to celebrate the festival of Opet. Many rulers built on to the temple yet it always remained a place of worship for Christians and later Muslims. A mosque built inside the temple still exists and is one of the highlights of the site.

Luxor Temple is beautifully lit at night so it's worth visiting the site at sunset. Hours are 9am - 6pm and admission is 20 Egyptian Pounds.

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
This great temple was built under the direct supervision of Egypt's only female Pharaoh. Modern yet simple in design, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut stretches to the Nile and its terraces edged with sphinxes, have fountains and trees from the tropics. Its other remarkable features are the Birth Colonnade indicating the Queen's lineage and the Punt Colonnade. Punt was the region which supplied ivory, ebony and spices to the Egyptian empire. To the South lies the Chapel of Hathor, sporting columns bearing the head of Hathor, some of which are still intact.

Mummification Museum
Situated on the Corniche is a small museum dedicated to the art of mummification. The techniques evolved over several millennia whereas the earliest burials were simply in baskets in the sand, where the heat and desert air would desiccate the body. Later burials of pharaohs were elaborate, ritualistic affairs. In order to attain the afterlife, the body must be preserved. The Mummification Museum has everything you need to learn about the process of mummification. Housed inside are also mummified specimens of humans and animals like crocodiles, cats and dogs - animals of special significance to the ancient Egyptians.

Ancient Thebes
Crossing the Nile to the West of the city of Luxor is the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Because there is so much to see and so much ground to cover, guided tours usually enter three tombs at the major archaeological sites.

Colossi of Memnon
Two giant statues make up the Colossi of Memnon. Most visitors get a glimpse of them on their way to the Valley of the Kings but it is worth a stop to see them up close.

Valley of the Kings
The ancient Egyptians preserved the richly ornamented tombs of their sacred Pharaohs by burying them deep inside the rocky hillsides. Resting in the elaborate tombs that dot the Valley of the Kings are pharaohs like Tutankhamen, Seti I and the sons of Rameses II. Each of these graves is different. While Tutankhamen has a surprisingly simple one, the now closed tomb of Seti I is resplendent. Excavation is in progress in the tombs of the sons of Rameses II. Nearly 100 elaborately inscribed chambers have been found here.

Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens lies at the southern end of the necropolis. This is where the queens and their children were interred. Only four tombs are open to the public in the Valley of the Queens and if you had to choose just one, it would have to be Queen Nefertari' s tomb. Tickets are limited to just 150 a day and you are only allowed in for 10 minutes, but it is worth the effort.

Valley of the Workers
The sculptors and architects who designed and built these magnificent tombs for the Kings, Queens and nobles lived in small non-descript houses on winding narrow streets. No grand resting places were built for them. For ten days, the workers would stay at the site of the tomb toiling away. This would be followed by a break when they returned to their homes in this village. The workers could not interact with the people of the Eastern bank lest they revealed the secrets of the tombs.

Dendara Temple
Dating back to the Greek or Ptolemaic period during which Cleopatra also reigned, this temple is in a good state of preservation with its roof intact. To reach it visitors can take a taxi but the more interesting option is to sail up the Nile till Qena and cover the remaining eight kilometres by coach. While initially the warm sun may invite tourists to bask on the deck, it can turn extremely hot later, so, visitors are advised to stock up on sun protection and protective head gear. While in Dendara, tourists can visit the Temple of Hathor before moving on to Abydos where 'The Cult of Osiris' originated. During the ancient times, no Egyptian would have missed out on at least one visit to Abydos, such was its prominence.

Elephantine Island
Elephantine Island is the biggest island in this region. It cradles sites dating back to Pharaonic times. The quaint Nubian villages of Siou and Koti are situated here. The island also houses the well-known Nilometre and ancient temples of Sati, Khnum and Pepinakht-Heqaib.

Kitchener's Island
Kitchener's Island or Geziret el-Nabatat lies beyond Elephantine Island. It was named after the British General Horatio Kitchener who was sent to Egypt in 1883 to mobilise the Egyptian army against the Sudanese Mahdi. Apart from military skills, Kitchener brought a green thumb and exotic plants to this island, which continue to flourish even today. Also called the Plantation Island, the island hosts some truly rare species of flora.

Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens of Aswan have some of the most imposing trees, colourful flowers and delicate herbs. The Nubians take very good care of the gardens and will regale visitors with anecdotes and stories about the plants. Here, visitors will feel at one with nature. Tea lovers must definitely buy hibiscus tea from here from amongst many types of teas that are on sale here.

Nubian Museum
The Nubian Museum gives an insight into the history of Egypt. It has a huge selection of artefacts which vividly chalk out how life and times were in that era. The Nubian Museum is located at the southern tip of Aswan on Sharia Abtal al-Tahrir. For visitors who plan to walk, it will take about half an hour from the city centre. The highlights of this museum are its architecture, detailed and vivid explanations of all its exhibits and the massive horse statue.

The entry fee is EGY£ 20 (3.55 USD) and visitors pay EGY£ 10 (1.77 USD) to use their camera inside the premises. The museum is open every day between 9 am and 1 pm and again between 5 pm and 9 pm.

Tombs of the Nobles

Al-Hawwa's Tomb
The tomb of marabout Qubbet el-Hawwa lies on the west bank of the river Nile and stands tall, perched majestically on the cliffs. He was a local saint. Just below that are the tombs of nobles and officials who held important posts in the Pharaohs' government. The small shrine right on the top belongs to a local sheikh revered for his holiness. Once visitors climb the steep cliffs, they'll get to enjoy stunning views of Aswan and the surrounding areas with the river Nile flowing quietly. The place lives up to its name - which in Arabic means ‘dome of the wind'.

Mohammed Shah's Tomb
A short way up the river is the tomb of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan who passed away in 1957. Called the Tomb of Aga Khan, it is constructed along simple and elegant lines.

St. Simeon Monastery
Also known as the Coptic monastery, this was built in memory of the local saint Amba Hadra in the 6th century. Its ruins are very picturesque.

Abu Simbel
Aswan is the perfect base to see this spectacular temple. Usually hotels arrange for tours to Abu Simbel and the group typically leaves at 3 am for a three hour drive through the desert to the temple.

Aswan Dam
This engineering marvel lies to the south of the city of Aswan. The Aswan High Dam is on the river Nile and a great site for locals and tourists to come and admire modern day technology. Built in the late 20th century, it has many admirers and critics alike.

Philae Temple
Built in honour of Isis, this is one of the last standing temples built in Egyptian classical style. Its construction began in 690 BC. The temple was moved from its original site on Philae Island to Agilkia Island since Lake Nasser was flooded. This was possible thanks to the concerted effort of a UNESCO team which not only saved this temple but many other small temples too.

The sound and light show at the temple by night is a must-see for visitors. At one point in the 1800s, this temple was used as a church, therefore many of its original inscriptions have been vandalised and re-carved as crosses and its Egyptian gods defaced.

Kalabasha Temple
Like the Philae temple, this temple was also moved by a UNESCO team to save it from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser. The main temple was built during the rule of Emperor Augustus in honour of the sun god Marul who symbolised fertility. Other must-see sights are the kiosk of Qirtasi and the breath-taking temple of Beit al-Wali built by Rameses II.

Felucca Sailing on the Nile River
Taking a Felucca down the Nile is a very popular activity when visiting Egypt. Feluccas are sail boats that have been used on the Nile since antiquity. You can take short sunset sails or opt for longer cruises which usually depart from Aswan and end in Luxor. Feluccas generally sail upstream helped by winds and float downstream along with the currents. Feluccas can be hired at reasonable rates and if you have a good captain sailing the boat it will really enhance your experience.

Luxury Cruises on the Nile
Nothing can beat the experience of a luxury Nile cruise. As visitors sail leisurely down the River like people have done for many centuries, they can observe a way of life which has remained remarkably unchanged.

Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Luxor & the Nile River
For unbeatable views of Luxor's famous temples, take a hot-air balloon flight over the Nile River's west bank. Away from the crowds in the peaceful glow of dawn, your sunrise flight over Egypt's ancient monuments promises to be a highlight of your visit. Following a safety briefing and introduction to your ground crew and pilot, you will rise gently into the still-dark sky. The tranquility and beauty of the early-morning sun rising over the East Bank, illuminating the city of Luxor and surrounding mountains, is something you will never forget. Your hot-air balloon flight will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and you'll be back at your hotel or cruise ship in time for breakfast and morning tour departures.

Caleches - Horse drawn carriages
To escape from the blazing Egyptian sun while visiting monuments , caleches are a good option in both Luxor and Aswan. These horse drawn carriages are cheap and give visitors the experience of old world transport.

Camel Riding
For the real feeling of being at the edge of a desert, nothing can beat a camel ride. Perched high on a camel's back, visitors can sway about the city's parks and gardens. Camel rides are available along the banks of the Nile too.